Review: inFAMOUS: First Light

Earlier this year developers Sucker Punch released arguably one of the most highly anticipated PlayStation 4 exclusives, a game teased since the consoles reveal, inFAMOUS: Second Son. The game was received well across the board from fans and critics alike with the only major negative point being that the story was too short.

Well Sucker Punch have solved that issue with the release of inFAMOUS: First Light, a spin-off/prequel which follows the events of Second Son supporting character Fetch.

The story is set across two time-frames, the first is the same open-world Seattle from Second Son but two years prior to Delsin’s story and the second takes place in Curdun Cay, the DUP detention facility, just days before the prison break that led to Delsin becoming super-powered.

Using the brief flashback bio we get in Second Son as a basis, the game tells the story from the perspective of Fetch’s interrogation at Curdun Cay by Augustine, the antagonist from the main game. As Fetch tells her story the player finds themselves two years in the past playing the role of Fetch as she goes from drug addict to vigilante following the death of her brother.

The story is told well and at a fair pace and it never feels like the developers are just trying to cash in on the main game, this is an interesting standalone story which links nicely into a shared timeline. This game does nothing but add value to the franchise as a whole.

The game uses the interesting retrospective story-telling to introduce the player to new superpowers as they progress through the campaign. At certain points through the game, usually when a certain new power is conveniently required, the player is thrust back into the “modern day” to a DUP battle simulation which allows the game to introduce the new power and ultimately the player to learn how to use it.

It’s not just the way the story is told that sets this game apart from Second Son, the game-play itself has a number of new things to keep the player interested and involved.

The main difference in First Light is the battle modes. Set in the training facility at Curdun Cay, you can battle waves upon waves of every bad guy from the D.U.P. agents to the digital angels and demons. There are a few different scenarios to choose from, from saving hostages to all out chaos and it’s fun, very fun.

The main story campaign may only offer three to five hours of game-play at best but this mode will keep you occupied for weeks as you work your way through over 120 challenges and improve your skills with the powers available. If you’ve previously owned inFAMOUS: Second Son then you will also have the option to play through the battle mode as Delsin, with all of his powers unlocked and free to use.

The main story also has a few quirks we didn’t get to see from Delsin. One of the most fun elements in the open-world is the Neon clouds scattered around the city. Run through one of these while performing a neon dash and you are hurtled at incredible speed, chain them and you can speed across town at a velocity that Delsin could only dream of. This is also integrated into the new race missions where you have to speed across town to collect a floating ball of neon energy, yes realism went out the door a long time back, but it’s genuinely enjoyable.

Other, less original, objectives can be found in the open-world as well. While the Second Son protagonist was out collecting blast shards Fetch has Neon Lumens, floating balls of Neon if you will, to collect. Those pesky flying drones are back as well but this time you have a hacked feed to the drone itself rather than street camera access.

The soundtrack and visuals in this game are of course stunning. Using the same design and technology as Second Son means that we are treated to the same amazingly rendered environment which is as alive as the main game. A cheaper, less involved add-on this is not. A lot of effort has gone into maintaining the world of Second Son and it’s paid off.

For those trophy hunters out there, it’s also interesting to note that despite DLC price-tag there is a full set of trophies, including a platinum so your play-through will be well rewarded.

Sucker Punch have done another great job in bringing the inFAMOUS universe back to life. They’ve made a story full of emotional depth as well action and leaving us wanting more again. This is a must have for any inFAMOUS fan or even those looking to enjoy Second Son without the budget to do so.

Earlier this year developers Sucker Punch released arguably one of the most highly anticipated PlayStation 4 exclusives, a game teased since the consoles reveal, inFAMOUS: Second Son. The game was received well across the board from fans and critics alike with the only major negative point being that the story was too short. Developer: Sucker Punch Productions Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Reviewed on: PlayStation 4 Also Available On: Exclusive to PS4 Release Date: Out Now (Digital Download)/10th September 2014 (Blu-ray Disk) Well Sucker Punch have solved that issue with the release of inFAMOUS: First Light, a spin-off/prequel which follows the events of Second Son supporting character Fetch. The story is set across two time-frames, the first is the same open-world Seattle from Second Son but two years prior to Delsin's story and the second takes place in Curdun Cay, the DUP detention facility, just days before the prison break that led to Delsin becoming super-powered. Using the brief flashback bio we get in Second Son as a basis, the game tells the story from the perspective of Fetch's interrogation at Curdun Cay by Augustine, the antagonist from the main game. As Fetch tells her story the player finds themselves two years in the past playing the role of Fetch as she goes from drug addict to vigilante following the death of her brother. The story is told well and at a fair pace and it never feels like the developers are just trying to cash in on the main game, this is an interesting standalone story which links nicely into a shared timeline. This game does nothing but add value to the franchise as a whole. The game uses the interesting retrospective story-telling to introduce the player to new superpowers as they progress through the campaign. At certain points through the game, usually when a certain new power is conveniently required, the player is thrust back into the "modern day" to a DUP battle simulation which allows the game to introduce the new power and ultimately the player to learn how to use it. It's not just the way the story is told that sets this game apart from Second Son, the game-play itself has a number of new things to keep the player interested and involved. The main difference in First Light is the battle modes. Set in the training facility at Curdun Cay, you can battle waves upon waves of every bad guy from the D.U.P. agents to the digital angels and demons. There are a few different scenarios to choose from, from saving hostages to all out chaos and it's fun, very fun. The main story campaign may only offer three to five hours of game-play at best but this mode will keep you occupied for weeks as you work your way through over 120 challenges and improve your skills with the powers available. If you've previously owned inFAMOUS: Second Son then you will also have the option to play through the battle mode as Delsin, with all of his powers unlocked and free to…

Review: inFAMOUS: First Light

Review: inFAMOUS: First Light

2014-08-28

Mike

8

Great

A Pleasing Spin-off

Despite suffering from the same issue as Second Son, a story far too short for our needs, the game brings new depth to a supporting character. The game-play and visuals are as fun and beautiful as ever. The new game-play elements add value to the franchise as whole. You'll be left wanting more.

Overall

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A co-owner of the Palace and the Tech Guru. He also co-hosts "The Geek Show" podcast and hosts "The Unhinged Gamer" videos on TPoW TV. You can catch up by following him on Twitter or (most likely) gaming: PSN: UKMickyJay - XBOX: Micky Jay.